Birinder Singh met a tragic end while driving on the highway to catch a glimpse of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. The 22-year-old international student from India lost his life last Saturday on a highway south of Edmonton after being struck by a bullet fired from a passing pick-up truck, as per RCMP reports.
Singh’s friend, who was in the vehicle with him, expressed bewilderment over the crime, emphasizing safety concerns and the lack of arrests made by the police. The untimely loss of his friend, whom he had known for 15 years since their childhood in Punjab, has instilled fear in him, making him hesitant to leave his home or even drive down the street.
The shooting occurred near Leduc, Alta., just south of Edmonton, in the afternoon on a Saturday. A grey pick-up truck approached Singh’s Honda Civic, with someone in the truck firing a shot before speeding away. Although the suspect truck, a Ford F-150, has been located by the police, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with investigations ongoing to determine the reason behind the tragic incident. Singh’s friend, who reconnected with him in Canada, revealed that Singh had recently moved to Alberta after completing his studies and was planning to start his own business.
During a road trip with friends to Banff in southwestern Alberta, only a few minutes from Edmonton’s city limits, the group encountered a passing pick-up truck. The situation escalated when the occupants of the truck gestured at them before firing a fatal shot at Singh, leaving him fatally wounded.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada has urged Edmonton police to consider investigating Singh’s death as a potential hate crime, a sentiment echoed by Singh’s friend. The friend expressed disbelief at the senseless act and the outpouring of discriminatory comments online following the tragedy.
As preparations are made to repatriate Singh’s body to his family in India, his friend reminisced about Singh’s character as a quiet yet humorous individual who had aspirations for his future in Canada. The sudden loss of his presence has left a profound silence in their shared living space, emphasizing the void left by his absence.